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Meyer: Planning has Boks on track

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer believes the planning his side has done will be the key to victory over the All Blacks in the Investec Rugby Championship decider at Ellis Park on Sunday (NZT).

Meyer said at a press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday that the South Africans faced a 'colossal' challenge. They not only had to beat the best defensive team in the competition, they needed to score a four-try bonus point win while denying the All Blacks a bonus point.

"We've really planned well and now it's going to be a matter of executing," he said. "But there is a lot of mutual respect between us and the All Blacks.

"Nobody has scored four tries against the All Blacks for the last eight, maybe nine years, and in those days the defence wasn't as organised.

"We've got a plan but it is a difficult task...they are a quality side and just to win the game will be a massive challenge for us," he said.

South Africans are pointing to the last outing between the two sides at Ellis Park where the home side secured a 40-26 win as an example of what could be possible.

"I never said we're going to go out and score four tries. We're just going to go out there and try and play positive rugby," he said.

"Obviously you have to believe that you are able to do it, otherwise there is no use in going out there.

"It is very difficult playing against the All Blacks as they've only conceded seven tries in the last eight Test matches. They've got a great running game but what makes them so effective is their kicking game.

"They outkicked us when we played in Soweto [last year] and we couldn't get out of our half – they kicked 12 times more than us. So if we want to beat them even before we start scoring tries, we have to match them with their kicking game," he said.

Meanwhile, he said he also hoped the All Blacks would be punished if they used negative tactics.

"The officials are very good. We really want to score tries, therefore I hope there are yellow cards. We want quick possession, but then we also need to take our chances. But there simply has to be good officials in order to do that," he said.

Meyer also hoped referee Nigel Owens would allow South Africa to employ their driving maul from lineouts without the All Blacks being allowed to upset their plan.